Brake mechanism.



PATENTED OCT; 22. 1907.

P. X. BEAULIEU. BRAKE MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 10, 1907.

PX Beau//ew gwvamoz after, 2135 PAUL X. BEAULIEU, or PRESQUE ISLE, AINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

BRAKE rrrnennmsm.

Patented Oct. 22, 1907.

Application filed June 10, 1907. Serial No. 378,226-

To all whom it mag concern:

llo it known that 1, PAUL X. BEAULIEU, a citizen of the United States,residing at Presque Isle, in the county of Aroostook andState of Maine,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Brake Mechanisms;and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such aswill enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in brakes.

The object of the invention is to provide a brake mechanism adapted moreparticularly for use upon freight cars, and the like, whereby a greaterpower may be exerted in setting the brakes-upon the wheels of the car;and to provide means whereby the mechanism may be operated either-fromthe top of the car or from the ground With these objects in view, theinvention consists of certain novel features of construction,combination and arrangement of parts as will be more fully described andparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing is shown a perspective view of my brakemechanism applied to the of a freight car.-

Referring more particularly to the drawings 1 denotes forward Send abrake shaft which is mounted in suitable brackets secured to the frontend of the car and is provided on its upper end with the ordinaryhand-wheel 2, and adjacent to its lower end is connected the usual brakechain, 3. I

In addition to the ordinary wheel 2 on the upper end of the shaft ismounted a smaller wheel 4, said wheel being concentric to the wheel 2,and mounted in a slightly lower plane. Thciwheel 4 is provided on itsupper face.

.With a series of ratchet teeth 5. I

Pivotally mounted upon the shaft 1 above the wheels 4 and 2 is a handle,(1, which projects out beyond the outer wheel and is preferably jointedas shown at '7 by means of which the outer end may be permitted todepend or hang down out of the way. The joint 7 is preferably arrangedat the, outer edge of the wheel 2 and is in the form of a slip jointinwhich a pin 8 projects through a slot 9, in the outer portion 10 ofthohandle, which will permit of grcat strain being placed upon the outerend without danger ofbrcaking the handle at the joint.

Pivotally mounted on the inner portion of the handle 6 is a pawl 11,which is adapted to engage with the teeth 5 at its free end and therebycause the two wheels and the shaft 1 to be rotated when the handle 6 ismoved back and forth by the brakeman. The handle 6 may also be turnedentirely around in operating the wheel instead of being moved back andforth over the ratchet teeth, as described. A weight 12 is pivotallyconnected with the pawl'll so that when it is thrown forward, the sameengaging end of the pawl, said end will be caused to engage the teeth ofthe wheel 4, when the'weig htis thrown in the opposite direction overthe rear end pt' the pawl as shown in dotted lines, the free end oi'thogpawl will be lifted out of engagement with the teeth, thu sepermittingthe two wheels and the shaft to rotate in the reverse direction and thebrake thus released. The upper end of the shaft 1 preferably extendsabove the wheels and lever, as shown at 13, and'a stay or brace rod 14is connected to said upper end and extends downwardly and is connectedto the handle 6, thus providing a brace for the handle, whereby thestrength and rigid ity of the same is greatly increased.

On the shaft 1, ate suitable distance below the operating mechanism onthe upper end thereof, is mounted a ratchet wheel 15. A pawl T6 ispivotally mounted upon a suitable bracket adjacent to the wheel 15, sothat the'inner end of the pawl is adapted to engage the teeth of thewheel '15, and tlius prevent a retrograde movement or reverse rotationof the shaft, when the lever 6 is being swung back for a new engagementof the pawl 11 with the wheel i. The pawl 16 is preferably actuated bythe foot of the operator, said pawl be ing forced downwardly against thetension of a springv 1 7 to-release the same from engagement withthe-teeth ofthewheel 15. If desired, a stop,18 may be provided for on?end of the lever by bending up one end of the spring, 17, toward theother, as shown in the drawing.

In addition to the shaft operating mechanism on the upper-end of theshaft I have provided means whereby the brakes may be operated from theground, thus saving the time and labor of the brakeman in climbing tothe top ofa car when the brakes are to be operated.

"The mechanism for operating the brake from the ground comprises aratchet wheel 19, which is rigidlymounted on the lower end of the shaft1 and is similar inconstruction to'theratchet wheel amounted on theshaft below the hand-wheel, 2. Onthe shaft 1, a slight distance abovethe ratchet Wheel 19 is pivotally mounted a handle 20, which ispreferably jointed in the same manner as the handle 6 on the-upper endof the shaft to permit the outer end of the handle to dropor hang downwhen not in use. On the handle 20 is pivotally mounted a'pawl 21, oneend of which is adapted to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel 19,whereby the lat" ter may be turned in onedirection by the handle 20. Aweight 22 is pivotally mounted on the handle and is adapted to be swunginto engagement with the working end of the pawl to hold the same .inengagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel or to be swung back intoengagement with the opposite end of the pawl to hold the same out ofengagement with said teeth, thus permitting the wheel 19 and shaft toturn in a reverse direction. The weight 22 has connected thereto thelower end of an operating rod 23, the upper end of which extends to thetop of the car and is provided with a handle to permitthe same to begrasped and operated by the brakeman when on the top of the car, thusenabling him to release the brake mechanism without de 1scendir'ig'tothe ground.

5 In order that the pawl 16 may be disengaged from extends downwardly tonear the bottom of the carand whereby the bralie'man is provided withahandle 7, on the ground may reachjithe same, and, by pulling downwardlyon said rod 2 l will cause the lever 24 to release the-pawl' 16 fromthe'wheel 15, thus allowing the shaft to turn in a reverse direction torelease the, brakes.

The-operating'rods and 26 are held in operative p0;

to the end of the car. I The outer portion of the handle is1prefrablysupported upon a segmental guide bar 29, which is secured to the lowersupporting bracket. of the shaft.

Having described my invention, I claim:

uppercnd with a hand whcchand just below said hand wheel with a ratchet,a handle pivotnlly mounted on said shaft. just above said hand wheel andadapted for conveui'e'nt manipulation at the top'ofthe car and carryinga weight equipped pawl for en'gagement'with said ratchet,

said shaft having; at its lower-end an additional ratchet wheel and alike handle also loosely connected to said shaft and providedwith.awcight-criuippedpawl for engagement with said latter ratchetwheel. a third ratchet wheel secured to said shaft internlediateof theaforesaid ratchet wheels, av spring-pressed pawl engaging said'intermediate ratchet wheel fnu'retention against reverse movement, :1handle-equipped lever connect-ed to said intermediate ratchet-engagingpawl, and a handler-pd 'con- QiQ -nected to, and adaptedfor actuatingthe bottom ratchet e ngaging pawl, said intermediate ratchet-engagingpawl "having; thehandle'of its operating lever passing through bracketcommon to said handle rod. said handle extending downward for convenientactuation from the ground sealer? sitien by meansoi suitable guidebrackets 28, secured 1. In a brake mechanism, and shaft provided at itsand said handle rod extending upwardly for manipulation near the top ofthe car.

2: In a brake mechanism. a'shaft provided at its upper end with twowhcels one of which is adapted to be actuated by hand, ratchet teeth onthe other wheel, a handle pivotally mounted on said shaft adjacent tosaid wheels, and extending beyond thcriin thereof a pawl mechanism onsaid handle in pos il'ion to engage the ratchet teeth 01' said wheel,whereby the shaft may be rotated from the top' of a car, a ratchet wheelfixedly mounted on the lower end of said shaft, an. operating handlepivotally mounted above said wheel, and a pawl mechanism carried by saidhandle'to engage the teeth of said ratchet wheel.

In a brake mechanism for cars, a shaft. a handwheel rigidly mounted onthe upper endof said shaft, 11

ratchet wheel rigidly mounted on the shaft below said hand-wheel; anoperating lever or handle pivotally mounted on theshaft above saidhand-whcol, a pawlinechanism carried by said handle or lever and adaptedto be held in and out of engagement with the teeth of said ratchetwheel, a shaft locking ratchet wheel. a pawl adapted to engage -saidwheel. means to operate said pawl from the ground, a pawl and ratchetmechanism mounted on the lower end'of said shaft, and means to releasethe pawl of said operating mechanism from the top of a car.

,4. In a brake mechanism for cars, a shaft, a hand wheel rigidly mountedon the upper end of said shaft, a ratchet wh eel rigidly mounted on theshaft below said hand-wheel; an operating lcver -or handle pivotallymounted.

carried by saidhandle or lever and adapted-tome held in and outofcngage'ment with the teeth of said ratchet wheel, a shaft lockingratchet wheel, a pawl adapted to engage said wheel, a releasing leverconn'ectedto said'pawl; tinoperating pawl connected to saidjleverwhereby the same is operated from the ground, a rat'chetwheel mountcdontlie'lowe'r endof sa'idshaft, a jointed operating handle pivotallymountcd-onsaid sh'aft,,a pawl pivotally mounted on said handle. means tohold said pawl into on the shaft above said hand wheel 'ir pawlmechanism and out of engagement with 'the teeth of said ratchet,

wheel and an operating rod connected to said pawl holdlng means wherebythe same may be actuated from the top of a car. v

in testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

PapL X. BEA LIEIL \'\'itnosses dorm H. .Tunn, ALFRED BI-nuininc.

